Best Poems Written by John Pavlou

Apres Le Deluge

Après le déluge 

Après le déluge, moi
2 1/2 hours to work in my car
It’s part of the game
And I’m grateful
Driving in circles
I am faithful
To my calling

What have you become?
What have you set your mind to?
What aspect of reality
Are you turning your attention to?

Attention
Devotion 
Study
Investment
Discovery 
Dedication
Moving the conversation forward

Someone goes through a red light
Someone smokes pot while they are driving
The selfishness that starts at two
Remains with some for their whole lives

It’s a never-ending tantrum
In a sour-milk life
Nothing is quite right
So you always act out

Build on weakness?
Build on strength?
Walk through life as a toddler?
Distracting yourself from your pain?
Amen.

Out of my body
Out of my mind
Outside of my identity
I do not seek, but I find

Stripping down to truth
Fully embracing my queerest fears
Dressing without labels
Accepting what appears

You catch the now
You miss the now
You see a moment
But you don’t know how

It just happens
And you live off the embers
Warming your hands on a memory
That you strain to remember

Yesterday's flowers
In eternity‘s vase
Living is dying
But to do so with grace
Is everything

A graffito says, “Curb Your Ego”
A sign on top of a cab says,
“Don’t Read This”
There’s someone letting their dog
Piss on my building
He’s on the wrong end of the leash

Two guys walking down the sidewalk
Like broken-in rodeo dudes
Bowlegged and pigeon toed
And cross-eyed, too

Après le déluge
Plus ça change

© 2021 JohnnyArt Pavlou

Copyright © John Pavlou | Year Posted 2021